There is a deep and constantly growing bond that today unites the technological excellence of Basilicata with the development prospects of Nairobi. It is a bridge made up of satellite data and entrepreneurial vision, through which Openet Technologies S.p.A. projects its experience on increasingly ambitious international scenarios. This path led to the birth of the Space Data Information Centre (SDIC) in Kenya, a wide-ranging project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), in close collaboration with key partners such as EAGLEPROJECTS S.p.A., E4Impact e l’ITS Academy di Basilicata.
More than just a technology initiative, the SDIC represents the global application of an ecosystem of expertise that draws its lifeblood from SPARKme, the Lucanian scientific centre and centre of excellence already consolidated in higher education and space innovation. The goal of this new hub is to transform Earth Observation (EO) into commercial value-added services, allowing African industries, governments and academic institutions to manage their geospatial resources independently. In this way, the aim is to enhance local skills and overcome the historical dependence on external processing centres.
The heart of the project lies not in the simple provision of software, but in a Integrated EduTech model which guarantees access to complex datasets and cutting-edge digital platforms. Through the SDIC, students and civil servants can access excellent technical training supported by interactive virtual labs. A central role is entrusted to the EA Platform, the technological component developed by EAGLEPROJECTS, which allows to manage satellite data, IoT sensors and drones integrated on a Digital Twin, offering monitoring and analysis capabilities that far exceed traditional methods.
The validity of this vision is concretely reflected in the pilot services focused on two crucial areas:Agriculture and the Urban Planning. In this strategic phase, partners such as ILASHE Farms e il Dipartimento di Nakuru (in the county of the same name) are actively involved as direct beneficiaries. Their participation is essential to test the effectiveness of the solutions, evaluate the integration of technologies such as drones and GNSS to optimise irrigation and urban development with millimetre precision and the possible adoption even after the end of the project.
Ultimately, with the SDIC, Openet promotes a sustainable development model that focuses on technological sovereignty and professional growth. Seeing an approach that combines theory, practice and digital laboratories become a catalyst for global change is confirmation that the innovation capacity born in Basilicata can successfully drive the technological challenges of the future.